SABERA™ 2025 Jury Meet Convenes: Advancing Purpose-Led Leadership & Sustainable Impact

New Delhi, November 19, 2025: The SABERA™ 2025 Grand Jury Meet convened today at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, marking the most critical phase of evaluation for India’s leading platform dedicated to responsible enterprise, sustainable development, and purpose-driven leadership. Now in its eighth edition, the Social And Business Enterprise Responsible Awards (SABERA™) continues to champion individuals, organisations, and initiatives that demonstrate progress grounded in purpose, equity, and long-term social value.

Launched by the Simply Suparnaa © Media Network, SABERA™ has earned a reputation for recognising GOOD, a term that has become synonymous with the platform’s commitment to celebrating work that transcends profit and creates lasting social value. This year saw an exceptional range of entries from India’s largest corporates, high-impact nonprofits, social enterprises, and individual changemakers working to shape a more inclusive and sustainable India.

A Distinguished Jury Steering the 2025 Deliberations

The SABERA™ 2025 Jury Meet brings together some of India’s most respected thinkers and practitioners from the fields of sustainability, business, public policy, academics, communications, and grassroots development. Their collective presence reflects the maturity and credibility the platform has built over the years.

The Grand Jury for SABERA™ 2025 includes distinguished figures such as Anant Agarwal, CEO & MD, Orient Paper and Industries Ltd.; Ashwini Saxena, CEO, GMR Foundation; Deep Bajaj, Re-Founder, Sirona Hygiene; Geeta Goel, Former MD, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation; Rajeev Chaba, Advisor & Mmeber Joint steering Committee, JSW MG Motor India Pvt Ltd.; Ravanan N, CEO, OneIndia & Executive Director, DailyHunt; Sanjeev Raina, Executive Director, BPCL; Sudarshan S, Chief Development Officer, Reliance Foundation; UG Sujatha, Vice President, Invest India; and Urvashi Prasad, Health & Public Policy Advisor.

Jury is being Chaired by Vinita Bali, Former Managing Director of Britannia Industries Ltd., Bali expressed her perspective on the relevance of SABERA™ and the importance of recognising work that strengthens India’s social fabric.

“SABERA™ has taken a timely and relevant initiative to recognise and reward socially responsible work that has the potential to transform people, communities, and our environment. These courageous award winners, who have not let anything deflect their conviction, are an inspiration for us, and I am particularly honoured to be the Jury Chair for the 2025 Awards.” – Vinita Bali

Supporting the Grand Jury is a robust Pre-Screening Council, which has undertaken the first level of evaluation for hundreds of entries across India. This body includes specialists such as Abhi Mahapatra, Communication, Public Policy & CSR Leader; Aparna Sharma, Secretary General, Cement Manufacturers’ Association; Deepa Dey, Comms, Advocacy & Sustainability Specialist; Rashmi Soni, Vice President, Corporate Communications, IndiGo; Radhika (Zainab) Patel, Chief Product Officer Search ends Consulting & Managing Director Gaurav; Sarita Bahl, Independent Director & Board Member; Sheetal Singh, Head of Marketing, PayTM Money; Rushva Parihar, Sustainability Coach; Sherin Ali, Founder, THRIVEZ; Vikas Bhatia, Dy. General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd.

A Holistic Evaluation of Responsible Work Across India

The entries received for SABERA™ 2025 reflect the remarkable breadth and depth of social impact work unfolding across India, from large multinationals to grassroots nonprofits. This year’s submissions showcase powerful initiatives such as United Way Bengaluru’s efforts to address the city’s water crisis, The Hans Foundation’s forest-fire prevention in Uttarakhand, and HUL’s vocational training initiatives in metropolitan centres.

From the Spiti Valley Foundation’s unique approach to education that blends modern learning with local wisdom, to SBI Foundation’s para-legal support for survivors of gender-based violence and Craftizen’s work in creating livelihoods for adults with intellectual disabilities, the diversity is striking. Individual changemakers too have made their mark, supporting cancer caregivers through Sanjeevani – Life Beyond Cancer or empowering persons affected by leprosy through the Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation.

Social enterprises like Human Ventures are advancing financial inclusion in rural India, while Haqdarshak is enabling women farmers to access vital government schemes. These are just a glimpse of the inspiring stories that will come together on December 12th for what promises to be a truly exceptional SABERA™ 2025 evening.

Shortlisted Individuals and Organisations

The SABERA™ 2025 shortlist represents the most compelling examples of responsible action and purpose-led innovation received this year. After an intensive, multi-tiered assessment process carried out by the Pre-Screening Council and the Grand Jury.

These shortlisted initiatives and leaders reflect the evolving landscape of social responsibility in India, from high-impact corporate programmes and community-rooted nonprofit interventions to pioneering social enterprises and transformational individual contributions. Each entry showcases how purpose, when combined with strategic rigour and deep engagement with communities, can create change that is both meaningful and enduring.

The complete list is given in the Appendix below.

Partnerships Strengthening the 2025 Edition

SABERA™ 2025 is supported by strategic partners who extend the platform’s reach and deepen its expertise. Amar Ujala joins as the Digital Media Partner for Hindi, leveraging its significant readership across northern India. OneIndia serves as the Digital Media Partner for English, further amplifying the awards across digital audiences nationwide.

Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused NGO, is the Knowledge Partner for this year. Its holistic approach mirrors SABERA™’s belief in long-term systemic change. Supporting this effort, Havish M joins as the Consulting Partner, strengthening the platform’s evaluation strategy and benchmarking.

Simply Suparnaa © Media Network: The Vision Behind SABERA™

The Simply Suparnaa © Media Network, founded by Suparnaa Chadda, is an award-winning organisation committed to creating responsible, non-sensational media narratives. With over two decades of experience across Indian media, the Network seeks to amplify content that strengthens public consciousness around sustainability, gender sensitivity, equity, and ethical leadership.

Beyond SABERA™, the Network runs menstrual hygiene and gender-sensitivity initiatives through its nonprofit arm, Woman Endangered, distributing sustainable feminine hygiene products in urban slums and underserved communities. It also enables professional reintegration for women who have taken career breaks and encourages girls from underserved backgrounds to take centre stage, and actively supports platforms for ESG and SDG-aligned enterprises.

The organisation firmly believes that leadership and spirituality are interlinked, and that this alignment has the power to effect lasting societal change. In recognition of its contribution to community empowerment, the Network received the UN Women WEP Awards 2021 as an SME Community Champion.

Looking Ahead: SABERA™ 2025 Awards on December 12

Winners of SABERA™ 2025 will be celebrated at the Awards Ceremony on December 12, 2025 at The India Habitat Cente. The ceremony will bring together leaders from business, civil society, philanthropy, and public policy to celebrate stories of transformation that shape the future of responsible enterprise in India.

As SABERA™ continues to grow, it remains committed to uplifting voices that redefine progress, voices that demonstrate that responsibility is not an obligation but an opportunity to inspire change, foster trust, and build a more inclusive and sustainable India.

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Appendix A: Initiative Awards (Shortlist)

Environment & Consumption (पर्यावरण और उपभोग)

Above 5 Cr
• United Way of Bengaluru
• The Hans Foundation
• Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.

Below 5 Cr
• Sustainable Ship and Offshore Recycling Program

Education (शिक्षा)

Above 5 Cr
• Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation
• SBI Foundation

Below 5 Cr
• Planet Spiti Foundation
• My Angels Academy
• Roshni Foundation and Charitable Trust
• Computer Shiksha

Enablement (सशक्तिकरण)

Above 5 Cr
• SAFAL – HUL
• LEAP – SBI Foundation

Below 5 Cr
• ETASHA Society
• ADiBha She Vision

Health, Nutrition & Wellbeing (स्वास्थ, पौषण और कल्याण)

Above 5 Cr
• ROADIS
• JINDAL STEEL

Below 5 Cr
• MOHAN Foundation- Manipur
• Meals of happiness charitable trust
• Sushena health Foundation

Agriculture & Rural Development (कृषि & ग्रामीण विकास)

Above 5 Cr
• SBI Foundation Gram Sewa
• Shree Cement Limited

Below 5 Cr
• Roshni Foundation and Charitable Trust
• Human Ventures Pvt. Ltd
• Jyoti Bahuudeshiya Sevabhavi Sanstha

Gender Diversity & Inclusion (लैंगिक समानता)

Above 5 Cr
• SBI Foundation

Below 5 Cr
• Feminism in India (FII)
• Racks

Innovative Development Sector Project (IDSP)

Above 5 Cr
• SBI Foundation
• Prism Johnson Limited Cement Division

Below 5 Cr
• Craftizen Foundation
• Jalchakra Innovations LLP

Behavioural Change through Marketing & Communication

Below 5 Cr
• Nurturing Gaia

Appendix B: Entity Awards (Shortlist)

Social Enterprise of the Year

Below 5 Cr
• Vaidic Srijan LLP
• IVIllage A Family

Non-Profit of the Year

Above 5 Cr
• Mobile Creches
• SASAKAWA-INDIA LEPROSY FOUNDATION

Below 5 Cr
• BANSIVIDYA MEMORIAL TRUST
• Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer
• Drzyashakti Trust

Appendix C: Individual Awards (Shortlist)

Promising Responsible Leader of the Year

Aniket Doegar – Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions
Kartik Iyer – Human Ventures Pvt. Ltd
Saurabh Choudhary – Eco Media Solutions Private Limited

Social Leader of the Year

Vinay Sharma- Sinhayana Foundation
• Bhavna Pandya – Research Innovation Incubation
• Sumitra Mishra- Mobile Creches
• Ameesha Prabhu – TRRAIN
• Gaurab Sen – SASAKAWA
• Ayushi Jaiswal – Project Fuel

Change Maker

Rashi Kapoor – Sachin Sarcoma
• Abhishek Gupta – WeVOIS Labs Private Limited
• Bharathi Srinivasan – AMBA
• Anil Ahluwalia – Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer
• Nand Kishore Chaudhary – Jaipur Rugs Foundation
• Vandita Morarka – One Collective
• Pranshu Singhal – Karo Sambhav
• Malini Parmar – Stone Soup
• Vikram Rajola – INDEED Foundation